Exercising machine



Feb. 9, 1960 A. J. ZAK 2,924,214

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORALPHONSE J. ZAK

ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1960 A. J. ZAK 2,924,214

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H T M/ 34 o /327' 26 4/ ALPHONSE J. ZAK

AT TORNEYS EXERCISING MACHINE Alphonse J. Zak, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 18, 1957, Serial No. 672,601

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention appertains to a novel exercisingmachine and more particularly to an exercising machine which can besuccessfully used by invalids, semi-invalids and others.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a compact anddurable machine which can be easily handled and transported, and one inwhich the operating parts are housed within a convenient carrying caseof a special design.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a machine whichwill effectively move and exercise the legs of a person with adesirable, gentle walking motion, so that not only will the leg musclesand joints be treated but also adjacent abdominal muscles and the like.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an exercisingmachine which can be successfully used by bedridden persons, as well aspersons capable of sitting up.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my exercising machine with the footpedals removed and ready for storage or carrying;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing my machine in use by abedridden person;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing my machine in use by aperson sitting in a chair;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, taken onthe line 4--4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through my improved machinetaken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of thearrows, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter M generally indicates my exercising machine and the sameembodies a carrying case 10 which houses the various working parts ofthe machine. This case 10 is fabricated to somewhat simulate theappearance of a suitcase and one wall thereof is provided with acarrying handle 11. The outer surface of the case 10 can be treated inany desired manner to enhance the appearance thereof. As illustrated,the case 10 includes a top wall 12, a bottom wall 13, end walls 14 and15 and side walls 16 and 17. The top wall 12 is connected with adjacentwalls in such a manner that the same can be conveniently removed oropened so as to permit access to be had to the interior of the case andthe operating mechanism housed thereby. It is to be noted that the endwall 15 includes an inclined portion 18, which extends at an angle tothe bot- United States PatenrO tom wall 13 and the remaining portion ofthe end wall 15. The purpose of this inclined portion 18 will laterappear.

Housed within the case 10 is a supporting frame 19 for certain operatingparts of the device and this frame includes a pair of spaced parallelpolished guide rods 20 and a transversely extending supporting end bracerod 21. The terminals of the brace and supporting rod 21 are rigidlysecured to the side walls 16 and 17. The guide rods 20 are rigidlysecured to an end wall 14 and to the brace and supporting rod 21. It isto be noted that the guide rods 200 are arranged in spaced relation tothe top and bottom walls 12 and 13.

Mounted on the guide rods 20 for free movement, are slide blocks 22 and23. The slide blocks have firmly attached thereto upwardly extendingposts 24 and these posts slidably extendthrough longitudinally extendingspaced parallel guide slots 25 in the top wall or cover 12. These postsextend outwardly of the top wall and prevent turning movement of theslide blocks 22 and 23 on the guide rods 20. The slide blocks 22 and 23and the posts 24 are reciprocated back and forth by means, which willnow be described. Rotatably mounted within a bearing 26 carried by thebrace bar 21, is a driven shaft 27 and this shaft has keyed or otherwisesecured thereto a pulley wheel 28. The pulley wheel 28 is driven, bymeans of a pulley belt 29 from an electric motor 30 of a desired rating.This motor can be rigidly secured to the case. The feed and return Wiresfor the motor are extended to an outlet box 31 at one side of the caseso that the electric motor can be connected by means of a plug'to asource of current. Suitable adjuncts can be provided, such as controlswitches, voltage regulators and the like. Fastened to the opposite endsof the shaft 27 are oppositely extending crankarms 32 and thesecrankarms are operatively connected by means of links 33 and 34, withthe slide blocks 22 and 23. The stroke of the slide blocks can be variedby changing the position of the links 33 and 34 on their respectivecranks and the cranks are provided with spaced openings for thispurpose.

Detachably connected to the upper ends of the posts 24 by means of pivotpins 35 are pedals 36. These pedals 36 include a heel plate portion 37and a leg portion 38. The leg portions 38 of the pedals 36 receive ankleand leg straps 39 and 40 so that the legs of a patient can be firmlyattached to the pedals.

During the transporting of the machine or during storage the pedals 36can be detached from the post and placed within the case 10.

When the device is being used to exercise a bedridden person the case islaid fiat on the bottom Wall 13 adjacent to the foot end of the bed andthe patients legs are placed onto the pedals and strapped thereto. Acircuit is now closed through the motor and the patients legs will bemoved back and forth with a gentle, steady motion. Due to thearrangement of the crankarms 32 relative to the slide blocks 22 and 23,the patients legs are alternately moved back and forth.

When the machine is used for patients sitting in a chair or the like,the case 10 is laid on the inclined wall 18, so that the case 'will bedisposed at an acute angle to the floor. The case is held in thisposition by means of legs 41 which are pivoted to the opposite sidewalls of the case, as at 42. When the case is being transported the legs41 can be swung on their pivots 42 parallel to the side walls and movedunder keeper brackets 43 (see Figures 1 and 2). With the case held inthe angular position, as shown in Figure 3, the legs of the patient canbe strapped to the pedals 36 and upon closing of the circuit through themotors the legs will be alternately raised and lowered.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spiritor the scope of this invention, but what is claimedas new 1 V 1.An'exercising machirieforbedi'idden and other ersons comprisingacarrying case having a pair of spaced parallel slots in one wallthereof, a pair 'of stationary guide rods disposed in said 'case,-slideblocks mounted on the rods for reciprocatory movement 'havin'g po'stsslidably extending through said slots, pedals for th'e' feet of apatient secured for swinging movement to the outer ends of the posts,and means within'th'e case for reciprocating the slideblocks inoppositedire'ctionsand said case having a flat bottom wall, whereby th'ecaSe Can be laid flat on a bed or other surface and an'inclined end wallwhereby the case can be disposed at an angle to-a horizontal surface,and means car'riedby and movable on the case to a lowered'operativeposition for cooperating with the inclined 'end wall to support the caseatan angle to a horizontal supporting surface. 7

2. An exercising machine comprising a case including a flat bottom wallanda top wall, said top wall having'a pair of spaced parallellongitudinal slots, .a supporting frame within said case including pairof spaced parallel guide rods arranged directly below said slots, slideblocks mounted on the rods for reciprocating movement, 'posts on saidslide blocks slidably extending through the slots, foot pedals-for thefeet of, a person pivotally connected to the outer ends ,of the posts,and means within said case for reciprocating the slide blocks inopposite directions, and said case having an inclined end wall wherebythe case can be positioned at an angle to a horizontal surface, and legspivotally secured to the opposite sides of the case adapted to be swungdown into engagement with a horizontal surface for supporting a caseonthe V inclined side caseat an angle to said horizontal surface.

3. An exercising machine as defined in claim 2, and

means for latching the pivoted legs to the opposite sides of the caseagainst accidental movement when said legs are not in use.

4. An exercising machine comprising a case including a flat bottom wall,a to'pwall and side walls, said top wall having a pair of, spacedparallel longitudinal slots, at supporting frame within "said caseincluding a pair of spaced parallel guide rods and a transverselyextending supporting end brace rod secured to the guide rods at one endthereof, theopposite ends of said guide rods ing said blocks'upon"rhtation of the shaft, posts on said slide blocks extending throu'ghtheslots, and foot pedals for the-fetof a person pivotally connected to theouter ends of said posts.

, References Cited in the file of this patent warren STATES PATENTS2,093,830 'Flatley Sept. 21, 1937 F2,397,'426 Mo'shier; Mar. 26, 19462,696,206 'Bierlriau; Dec. 7, 1954 2,772,881 Fundom Dec. 4, 19562,826,192 Mangas Mar. 11, 1958 will";

